Fire-curtain-operating device



Jan. 29, 1929.

T. CARRICK FIRE CURTAIN OPERATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 25,1927 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,626

T. CARRICK FIRE CURTAIN OPERATING DEVICE File y 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V.7 12 00226 er/627% M |NVENTOR BY afiajdlhab ATi' ORNEY Patented Jan.29, 19291.

entree stares THOMAS CARRICK, or nnnnnwoon, nnw ann'snir. i

new i FIRE-CURTAIfN-OPERATING DEVICE.

Application filed. May 25, 1927. Serial No. 194,222. a

This invention relates to stage curtain operatmg devlces, and-ltsgeneral ob ect 1s to provide a releasing apparatus for lowering.

: vents thesudden drop of the curtain and re-- tards the speed thereofafter it has reached a safe distance. and fully stops the movementthereof when it is dropped to a position to completely close the stagefrom the remaining portion of the building.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stage firecurtain releasing means of the character as above set forth, that alsosounds an alarm simultaneously with the dropping of the curtain. a

' This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionandin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims. I

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views,'and in which:

I Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the curtain releasing apparatuswhich forms the sub ject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the trip mechanism therefor. v Figure 3 is aview taken at right angles to Figure 3 and illustrating the tripmechanism after the same has been operated. Figure 4 1s a slmilar viewwith the tri mechanism 1n operatlve posltion.

Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the fusible elements of myinvention.

' Referring to the drawings in'detail the lettor A broadly indicates astage provided with of one the usual decorative curtains as showmandnormally arranged above-the stage and ca pable of closing the stageopening thereof is the usual fire curtain B which is adapted to bedropped to operative position throughthe instrumentality of theapparatus which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

The curtain B has fixed to its-upper edge a strip 1 which has arrangedin its-length and Y rising therefrom a plurality of eyes2'arrangedinpairs andiare adapted to receive one of the endsof cables 3 which aretrained about sheave wheels 4 journaled to a beam 5 which restsupon eyebeams of the building:

as shown. The beam 5 has also secured there- 1 to eyes 6 for receivingone of the ends of chains 7. which havetheiropposite ends. so:

cured in eyes 8 secured to the strip 1 between if the pairs of eyes 2'and arranged inparalleh.

ism therewith. It will; beobvious that the] chains 7 are adapted tolimit the downward v movement of the curtain B. Y

The cables'3' by virtue of the fact of being securedto the eyes 2 arealso arrangedin pairs, and one cableof each pair is fixed to a 7 cable 9which is trained 'over'a sheave wheel '10 andhas fixed to its lower enda weight 11. The remaining cables of each pair are disposed in anopposed directionwith respectto the cables 3 which are fixed to thecable 9, and

12 whichis likewise trained over a sheave wheel 13 arranged inparallelism with the sheave wheel 10. I

The cable 12 has its lower end-securedto afframe 13 throughthe medium ofan aper tured car 14 which is pivotally secured to the frame, andarranged in said frame for movement therewith is a tank l5xadapted tocontain liquid which is supplied thereto by a hose source of supply.Depending from the tank- 15 and arranged in communication therewith is adrain pipe 18 which has disposed therein a valve 19 controlled. by alever 20 in a manner which will be presently apparent. The drain "sothese remaining cables are' secured to acable 16 having connection witha supply pipe 17 WhlCh is in communication with any suitable pipe 18 ismounted for slidable movement in a waste pipe 21' so that regardless ofthe posi tion of the tank 15, the drain pipe 18 will at -which hasdisposed thereon the tripping mechanism of my apparatus. Secured to andarranged in superposed relation on said supporting plate'22 are anglebrackets 23 and 24:. The horizontal portions of said angle brackets aredisposed in parallelism and are provided with openings through whichpass rods 25 which are mounted for slidable move-- ment therein. Thelower end of each rod is formed with an eye 26 and surrounding each rodis a coil spring which has one end convo- Extending forwardly "fromadjacent the upper end of the supporting plate 22 and arranged uponopposite sides of the angle bracket 23 is one of a pair of aperturedears 27 which receive a shaft28 for rotation therein. Secured to theshaft 28 between the ears 27 is an elongated member 29 which hasarranged midway its ends and extending torwardly therefrom is areleasing finger 30. The rods 25 are held in their lower position andagainst the tension of their springs as shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings by the elongated member 29, and said elongated member, is heldin its rod holding position through the medium of .the engagement of thefinger 30 with the free endof a lever 31 which' has its opposite endpivotally secured between'spaced apertured ears 32 extending forwardlyfrom the supporting plate 22 as best shownln F1gures 3 and 1 or thedrawings. The lever 31 1s curved fronrits p1vot point in order toprovid'e a hook like portion 33 which accommodates a link 34: havingsecured thereto a weight 35. The weight 35 has also secured thereto oneend of a chain 36 which has its opposite end fixed to the lever 20 ofthe valve 19 as best shown in Figure l of the drawings. V r

The fusible members each include a housing 37 and these housings may ormay not ranged at any-desired. place 'in the building either adjacent toor remote from the stage and curtain B. \Vlule 1 have shown. only fourfusible elements and means to be operated thereby, 1t wlllbe obviousthat any num-- ber may be employed with the apparatus constructedaccordingly. Arranged in the housing of each fusible member is a fusibleelement 38 which is tapered from its ends toward its center so. as toprovide a restricted central portion 39 of suitable thickness to resistordinary temperatures, but heat from fire and heat capable of producingfire will.

' a link for fixing the same within the housing and fixed to theoppositeend of said element is a wire 41 leading to the tripping mechanism andis secured to the eye 26 of one of the rods 25 as clearly shown 1nF1gure 1 of the drawlngs. Of course the wlres are su1tably trained intheir passage from their fusible elements to their rods. Secured to thesupporting plate 22 below the cars 32 and in amanner to be arranged inthe'path of the rounded portion 42 of the arm 31 is a pair of spacedcontact plates-l3 being in electrical connection with a source of energyand a signalwhich in the present instance is shown as being an electricbell 4A. 7

Rising from the frame 13 is a rod is which has secured to its upper enda piston 45, and arranged in the path of the piston 45 is a cylinder 46having a flared lower end l? which acts to guide the piston 45 therein.The cylinder a6 is formed with a pin tality of-openings 18 at its upperend so as to allow escape of air as will be apparent. Arranged in thepath 01- the lever 20 is a roller 49 adapted to engage said lever forclosing the valve 19.

, From the alcove description. and disclo sure of the drawings, it'willbe obvious that the elon ated member 29 accordin l so as to b C5 releasethe arm 31 and the weight 35 from he latter. The weight will operate thelever 20 to open the valve which will let the liquid escape from thetank 15. lVh'en the tank 15 loses sufficient liquid so as tooverbalanced by the weight of the curtain B it willbe apparent that thecurtain will begin to drop by gravity and raise the tank accordingly.Vhen the tank has reached a suliicient height so that the piston 45 isarranged in the cylinder l6. the movement of the curtain will beretarded and approximately at the some time the lever 20 will beactuated by the roller 4:9 to prevent it'urther escape oi liquid fromthe tank 15, with the result, that the curtain will be stopped graduallyand thereby prevent brealuige or disarrangement of any of the hangingsthereof, or apparatus for oper ating the same. and of course the curtainfinally stops when the curtain completely closes the stage opening A.

It is thought from theforegoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desireit to be understood that I may make changes in the constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, providedthat such changes fall within 7. position and controlling the loweringthereof,

, comprising a liquid tank having connection with a gravitationalcurtain and to move upwardly and thereby permit downward movement of acurtain, a wei ht having connection with said curtain, said tank adaptedto have liquid therein of sufficient weight to retain the curtain inraised position with the aid of the weight first mentioned, fusible elements, at tripping mechanism controlled by anyone of said fusibleelements, a drain pipe in communicaiton with said tank, a valve in saiddrain pipe, means controlled by said tripping mechanism for operatingsaid valve to open position for releasing the liquid from said tank toallow the curtain to lower under the action of gravity, and means forretarding the lowering of'said curtain.

3. Means for holding a curtain in raised position and controlling thelowering there of, comprising a weight having connection with saidcurtain, a frame, a liquid tank arranged in said frame, means ofconnection between said frame and a gravitational curtain whereby saidtank when filled with liquid retains said curtain in raised positionwith the aid of said weight, fusible elements, a tripping mechanismcontrolled by anyone of said fusible elements, an alarm operated by saidtripping mechanism, means controlled by said tripping mechanism' forreleasing liquid from said tank to allow the curtain to drop by gravityand to simultaneously sound the alarm, and means for retarding theclownward movement of said curtain.

t. Means for holding a gravitational curtain in raised position andcontrolling the lowering thereof, comprising a Weight having connectionwith said curtain, a frame,

flexible elements between said frame and ourtain, a tank arranged insaid frame and said armand being adapted to open said valve meanstoallow the curtain to drop,

means in the path of said valve means to close the same, and means forretarding the downward movement of. said curta1n,fa cyle inder includedin the retarding means, apiw.

ton carried by the frame and adapted to received in said cylinder. u h

5. The combination with a vertical movable liquid'tank, of a valve fornormally retaining liquid in said tank, a weight for openof liquid fromthe tank, means normally and detachably holding said weight againstgravitational movement, and thermostatic means for effecting the releaseof the weight when said thermostatic means is acted upon by heat.

6. The combination with a vertical mov able liquid tank, of a valve fornormally retaining the liquid in said tank, a weight for opening saidvalve for releasing liquid from the tank, a pivoted lever normallysupporting said weight, pivoted means for holding said pivoted lever inweight supporting posi 'tion, spring pressed rods mounted for slidablemovement and adapted to operate said pivoted means, thermostaticelements, a wlre .ing said valve and bringing about discharge for eachelement and rod and being connected, I

thereto, whereby when any one of the elements is acted upon by heat itwill release" the rod connected thereto'for "moving said pivoted meansfrom said pivoted leverto allow the latter to'drop said 'Weightto openthe valve.

7. The combination withv a vertical mov able liquid tank, of a valve fornormally retaining the liquid in said tank, a weight opennected theretofor moving said pivoted means I from said pivoted lever .to allowthelatterto drop said weight to open the valve.

8. The combination with a vertical movable liquid tank, of a valve fornormally re-' taining liquid in said tank, a weight for.

opening said valve to release liquid from said tank, a pivoted levernormally supporting rods mounted for slidable movement and adapted tooperate said pivoted means, thermostatic elements, a Wire for eachelementand rod and being connected thereto, Where- 7 by Whenany one ofthe thermostatic elements is'ectecl upon by heat it Will release the rodconnected thereto for moving said pivoted THOMAS CARRICK.

